Blu Homes has always been one of my favorite prefab home builders. Their Sidebreeze and Breezehouse models will make you swoon. They just announced a new model called Breeze Aire that is built using the same high-end finishes and spacious layout but available at a lower cost (Breeze Aire starts at $350,000).

A little about Blu Homes:
Designed in California and built in half the time of conventional custom homes, Blu homes feature soaring ceilings, walls of glass ‘letting the outdoors in’, luxury quality finishes, and integrated high performance technologies for convenient and comfortable living. Blu’s proprietary information technology enables customers to create their unique home design online in 3-D, and receive a clear, fixed price. Skilled craftsmanship and unique steel-reinforced building technology allow Blu to build beautiful, open-plan designs, ship them efficiently and complete them quickly for a simple one-stop process for its customers. Built in its 250,000-square-foot state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Northern California.

Breeze Aire
The Breeze Aire design was inspired by the legacy of mid-century modern developer Joseph Eichler. Beginning in the late 1940s, Eichler Homes, Inc., built 11,000 iconic modern homes in California. These homes emphasized a connection to the outdoors, modern interiors, and bright, airy spaces. In that same spirit, the Breeze Aire features an open living and dining space, soaring 17’ ceilings, and vast walls of glass. “This is an extraordinary expression of the best of California design traditions,” noted Stephen Eichler, grandson of Joseph Eichler, when presented with the Breeze Aire design.

The Breeze Aire’s spacious footprint also includes generously sized bedrooms and bathrooms, roomy storage areas, and add-on options for expansion. Also essential to the Breeze Aire’s design are smart technology options that create a greener and more comfortable environment, while also complementing the home’s elegant, modern design.

“We are thrilled to introduce this glorious new product that embodies the spirit of the Breezehouse,” noted co-founder and Vice President of Market Development Maura McCarthy. “The Breeze Aire incorporates the iconic design of the Breezehouse, but at a more accessible price point. Thanks to its narrower footprint, it also easily accommodates suburban settings.”

Technology packages and options for the 2014 product line include integrated audio, zoned heating and cooling, motion sensor lights and faucets, and Level 2 electric car chargers. Blu is also launching Breeze Aire combination designs with garage and “pod” connectors, and lower level foundations in standard configurations for even faster project timelines.

Every Blu client is assigned their own Blu project manager and design team to streamline and manage the homebuilding process. While clients can choose from an extensive menu of choices, simple project management and design services are provided free.

Timothy’s background includes stints at This Old House, ELLE DECOR, Metropolitan Home and Woman’s Day. His work has been published on Wired Design, Bob Vila, DIY Network, The Family Handyman and Popular Mechanics and he has been featured on the Martha Stewart radio show and as a speaker at the ALT Design Summit, K/BIS and the National Hardware Show.